Filling machine



Ma 14, 1929. Mu 1,712,775

BILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-$heet l May 14, 1929.

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FILLING CHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14, 1929. m,1,712,775

KILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I May 14, 1929. vG. w. MUDD 1,712,775

FILLING ucawz Filed Sept. :50, 1925 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4" y 192$ cs. w.mu'on 1,712,775

FILLING MACHINE 7 Filed Sept. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 14,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRETT W. MUDD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MANUFACTURERS MACHIN-ERY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed September 30 1925. Serial No. 59,690.

This invention relates to improvements in filling machines, particularlyadapted though not necessarily limited in its use for filling cans orsimilar receptacles with a powdered or granular material and one 01' theobjects of the invention is to provide in a machine of this characterimproved means for simul taneously feeding a plurality of empty cansinto the machine, simultaneously filling; them and the removing andconveying away the filled cans. j 1

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the quantity ofmaterial to be delivered to the cans may be varied to compensate varyingsizes otcans. r

A further object is to provide an improved machine of this characterwhich will be of a comparatively simple and compact constructioh andeffective, efficient and automatic in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the con struction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and asshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the inven tion and inwhich drawings,

Figure 1, is an elevation of machine.

Figure 2, is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a vertical sectional View taken on line 33 Figure 2.

Figure 4:, is a vertical on line 4-4 Figure 3.

Figure 5, is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 Figure1.

Figure 6, is a sectional view taken on line 6-43 Figure 5.

Figure 7, is a 7-7 Figure 5.

Figure 8, is a detail perspective view partly in section of some of theadjustable elements of the delivery drum and with the elements detached.

Referring more par icularly to the drawthe numeral 10 designates asuitable structure for supporting a hopper 11 which has a bottom 12 thatinclinesdownwardly from the walls to the center of the hopper andterminates in an outlet opening 13.

one end of the sectional view taken sectional view taken on lineJournaled in suitable bearings and extending lengthwise oi and at asuitable distance below the openlng 13 is an oscillatory shaft 14Ccarrying a delivery drum for delivering the material from the hopper tothe containers. The drum preferably consists of a series of disc likemembers 15 which are held laterally spaced from each other by means ofblocks or members 16 preferably Of a segn'iental construction and thedisc and blocks are preferably secured to the drum and to each other bymeans of fasteningbars or members 17 which pass therethrough and areconnected with the ends orhcads180f the drum so that the members 15 andblocks 16 will oscillate with the shaft 14.

7 he members 15 co-operate with each other and with the ends of the drumto form pockets which are on each side of the blocks or members 16 andare adapted to be alternately moved into and out of register with theopening 13 in the hopper as the shaft 14: is oscillated and a casing 19which partially surrounds the drum is provided to maintain the materialagainst being accidentally discharged from the pockets.

Within each of the pockets are arranged two segment shaped members 20each of which is preferably provided with a knuckle or eye 21 that areadapted to be alined and through which eyes or knuckles the shaft 14passes so that the members 20 will be sup ported by the shaft forswinging movement with respect thereto.

One of the lateral faces of each of the members 20 co-operates with theadjacent lateral faces of the member 16 to form therewith pockets. theends of these pockets being; closed by the disc like members 15 and withrespect to which latter the members 20 are adapted to swing about theshaft 14 to vary the size and capacity of the pockets and therebyregulate or guage the amount 01" material to be received and deliveredby the pockets.

Any suitable means may he provided for adjusting the members 20 so thatthey will simultaneously move, such as bars or rods 22, one of thesebars connecting each series of the members 20, the discs or members 15being preferably cut away as at 23 (see Figure 7) V to permitthe bars 22to eXtcnd across the members 20 and so as not to interfere with therotative adjustment of the members 20 Loosely mounted upon the shaft 14is a gear 24 which meshes with a gear 25 preferably supported by one endof the drum. v The gear 24 also meshes with another gear 26 which inturn meshes with a gear 27 The gears 26 and27 are also preferablycarried by the end 18 of the drum. A link 28 is preferably connected byone end to one of the bars 22 and by its other end to the gear 25, and acasing 30'and arranged on the outside of the casing and connected withthe gear 24 is an operating handle or wheel 31 loosely supported by'the'shaft'14Q By rotating the hanfdle with respect to the shaft 14 theelements will be caused to simultaneously move towards or away from theadjacent faces of 'the members 16 to increase or decrease the size.shaft'and thereby maintain extend lengthwise of the machine.

by the material cf the material receiving pockets 32.

7 A clamping member 33 may be threaded upon the shaft 14to lock or clampthe member 31 against rotation with respect to the the members 20against adj ustinent and in fixed positionswith respect to the member16.

' The shaftlwith all of the above described part-s" supported thereby isadapted for an oscillatory movement and such motion is im- "pa rtedthereto in a manner to be later described Two series of delivery chutes34-35 are arranged side by side beneath the drum and These chutes are sopositioned that when the drum is rotated in one direction the contentsof oneseries ofpockets 32 will be delivered into the series 34 of thechutes and when-the drum is rotated in the opposite direction-thecontents of the other series of pockets32 will be delivered into theseries'35 of the chutes. The two series of pockets'32 are so disposedwith respect to each other that when one series is being emptied theother series is being filled from the hopper 11. V r

The delivery drum isoscillated preferably connected with one end of theLoosely mounted upon the shaft 14 and in proximity to the arm 36 is asprocket wheel '37 (see F igures 1 and 5) over which a sprocket chain 38passes and which chain also passes over a sprocket wheel 40,;zind'thesprocket chain 38 is somewhat loose to'provide slack in the chain.

by the sprocket Carried v wheel 37 are spaced stops or pro ections41which are adjustable with respect to the sprocket and to each otherthrough the'medimn ofa slot 42 and the arm 36 operates between thesestops or projections 41.

The sprocket 37 is oscillated by means of a chain or belt 43 whichpasses over sprocket wheels 44-45 and the chain 43 is secured to 39carried by a shaft length of travel of the chain 38, that is by reasonof the chain 43 being shorter than the chain 38, an oscillatory movementwill be given to the chain 38 and consequently to the sprocket 37.

hfotion is imparted to the sprocket 44 and chain 43 preferably from adriving pullev 46 having a clutch connection 47 with a shaft -18 and theclutch may be controlled by a handle or lever 49 located in a convenientposition for the operator.

Carried by the shaft 48 is a gear 50 preferably of the worm type whichmeshes with a gear 51 connected with the sprocket 44 for rotationtherewith.

The cans or receptacles are fed into the machine preferably by means ofan endless conveyor 52 one of the runs of which passes through themachine and is provided with flights or projections 53 arranged atsuitable. intervals and which engage behind one of the cans of a seriesto advance the cans.

The cans are moved along a suitable support 54 and the projections 53 onthe conveyor 52 are so spaced thata predetermined number of cans will beadvanced and positioned in the machine. The movement of the conveyorwill then be arrested and there will bc :1 interval of rest in themotion of the conveyor to permit of the proper filling operation.

'The conveyor 52 passes over suitable sprockets 55, 5G, and 57, andmotion is imparted to the conveyor preferably from the shaft 48 throughthe medium of a gear on the shaft 48 which meshes with a gear 58 on ashaft 59 carrying a mutilated gear 60 (see Figure The gear 60 mesheswith a {rear 61 that has connected with it to rotate therewith a gear 62over which a chain 63 passes.

The chain (33 also passes over another gear (not shown) and which lattergear is connected with the gear 56 to rotate therewith and over whichlatter gear the conveyor 52 passes.

Motion being imparted to the mutilated gear 60 will cause anintermittent traveling movement to be imparted to the conveyor orcarrier 52.

During the interval of rest of the conveyor 52 the cans or receptacles64 which have been just advanced thereby, will be at rest between theoutlet ends of the two series of chutes 8435 and in position to be movedlaterally from the conveyor to a position under one or the other of theseries of discharge outlets 3435, to be spaced considerably below theextremities of the respective chutes.

The entire series of cans just advanced by the conveyor will then beshifted laterally directly beneath one or the other of the series v cansjust advanced by the conveyor will when they are at rest be disposedintermediate the series of chutes.

Arranged on opposite sides of the conveyor 52 and beneath each of theseries of chutes are platforms -66 which are normally flush with the topof the support 54 and are adapt ed to respectively receive the series ofcans 6% when they are bodily and laterally shifted to one side or theother off of the support 5st and the platforms SIS-66 are adapted to beraised and lowered during. the interval of rest of the conveyor 52, tocause the ends of the respective chutes to enter into the respectivecans and deliver the material into the cans and which material issupplied to the chutes from the pockets 32 in the drum as the latter isoscillated.

Stops 67 may be provided to be engaged by the ends of the cans when theyare raised and these stops serve to form temporary closures for the canswhile they are being filled.

The filled cansare also lowered during the interval of rest of theconveyor 52, to a position to be again moved on to the support 54: y

to be advanced and moved out of themachine by the conveyor 52.

This raising and lowering movement of the platforms 65-66 is preferablyaccomplished by means of a cam 68 (see Figure 3) on the shaft 40. Aslide 69 movable in guides 70 has connected with it a roller 71operating.

on the cam 68 and uprights 72 form connections between the slide 69 andthe platforms 6566.

Spaced parallel guideways are formed by laterally spaced members 73, 74:, and 75, extending lengthwise of and adjacent the support 54c andthese members are supported by a slide 76 movable in guideways 77 thatextend transversely of the support 54 and conveyor 52. A lever 78 ispivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 79 and is connected byone end by means of a suitable connection embodying a pivot 80 with theslide 76. The other end of the lever is connected by means of a link 81with the cam 68 so that the rotation of the cam will rock the lever 78about its pivot 79 and cause the slide 76 to be moved forwardly andbackwardly in its guide 7 7. y

This movement will laterally shift the spaced members 7 3, 74, and 75,to move the series of cans off of the support 54: and alternately oneseries to one side and the next series to the other side of the support54, the respective series of cans being moved first to one side off ofthe support 54 and then back again onto the support 54.

The members 7 3, 7 4, and 75, are so arranged and so operate that aguide way between adjacent members will always be in position to receiveemptycans being advanced by the conveyor 52 and at the same time othersof the members will hold one series of cans under one or the other ofthe series of chutes Zia-35, and the members 7 3, 74c, and 75, are .sospaced that the cans will have a free ver tical movement therebetween.

Duringthe interval of time that the platforms 6566 are being raised andlowered the conveyor 52 will be traveling to move the filled cans out ofthe machine and to supply a series of empty cans to be filled and whenthe platforms 65-66 are in their lowermost positions or flush with thetop of the sup port 54, the conveyor 52 will be at rest to permit emptycans to be moved therefrom and filled cans to be placed upon the support54: to be removed from the machine by the corn veyor 52.

This placing and removing of the empty and the filled cans with respectto the conveyor 52 and support M is accomplished by the intermittentlateral shifting movement of the can guide members 7 3, 74, and 75.

Any dust that may be created within the machine from the handling of thematerial may, if desired, be removed by means of pipes 82 in whichsuitable suction may be maintained in any suitable manner (not shown).

A. strainer or lilter member may, if desired, be provided over the endof the pipes 82.

A guide way 8 f may be provided and along which the filled cans may bemoved by the conveyor 52.

A conveyor 85 may also be provided for conveyin g the empty cans into aposition that they may beplaced upon the conveyor 52 (see Figures 1 and2) and may be driven from the shaft 18, through the medium of a chain orbelt 86. A conveyor 87 suitably driven may also be provided forconveying away the filled cans from the conveyor 52.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein described andshown, it is to be .understood that many changes may be made inthe'det-ails of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A filling machine including a plurality of discharge chutes, meansfor simultaneously conveying a plurality of receptacles to the chutes,means common to all of said receptacles for simultaneously raising andlie loweringthem with respect tothe said con veymg means and-the chutes,and means operating intermittently to simultaneously remove thereceptacles from and'also simultaneously return them directly to thefirst recited means. 7

2. A filling machine including a plurality of discharge chutes, meansfor simultaneously conveying a plurality of receptacles to the the firstrecited means also to the said chutes and while are removed from thefirst said means.

of discharge chutes, means fo 7 ously conveying a plurality ofreceptacles to the chutes, means for simultaneously raising tionadjacent the chutes, mens lowering the receptacles chutes, means commonto all of said receptacles itor simultaneously raising and lowering themwith respect to the said conveying means and the chutes, and meansoperating intermittently to simultaneously remove the receptacles fromand also simultaneously re turn themdirectly to the first recited means,

operating to convey away the filled receptacles.

3. A filling machine'inclr-iding a plurality of discharge chutes,intermittent v operating 'means for simultaneously conveying a plu-"rality of receptacles into the maclnn means common to the receptaclesand operating to simultaneously remove them i'rom the first recitedmeans and to return them directly thereto, and means for lltaneouslyraising and lowering the receptacles with respect the receptacles 4. Afilling machine including a plurality of discharge chutes,intermittently operating means for simultaneously conveying a pluralityof receptacles into the machine, means operating to simultaneouslyremove the re- 'ce )tacles from the first recited means and to alsosimultaneouslyreturn themdirectly thereto, means for intermittentlyactuating the second recitedaneans, and means for simultaneously raisingthe series of receptacles with respect to the said chutes and while thereceptacles are removed with respect to the first recited means.

p 5, A filling machine includiu' a simultaneand lowering the receptacleswith respect to the chutes means 0 )eratin to intermittentl 7 h r 'alsosimultaneously return them directly to the first recited means.

6. A filling machine including two series of dischargechutes, means forsimultaneously conveying a plurality of receptacles to a posifor simultaneously removing-the receptacles from the conveying means, and meansfor raising and with respect to the chutes, the first recited means alsooperating to feed an additional series of receptacles to a positionadjacent the chutes during the rai ing and lowering movements of thefirst rei cited series of receptacles, the second recited plural tymeans also operating to remove the said additional series of receptaclesfrom the first recited means and return the filled reccptuclm thereto,the third recited means operating to return the filled receptaclessimultaneously with the removal of the additional and empty ries ot'receptacles.

7. A filling machine including two series of discharge chutes, means forsimultaneous] conveying a plurality of receptacles to a positionadjacent the chutes, means for simultaneously removing the receptaclesfrom the conveying means, means for raising and lowering the receptaclesith respect to the chutes, the first recited means also operating tofeed an additional series of receptacles to a position adjacent thechutes during the raising and lowering movements of the first recitedseries of receptacles, the second recited means also operating to removethe said additional series of receptacles from the first recited meansand return the filled receptacles thereto, the third recited meansoperating to return the filled receptacles simultaneously with theremoval of the additional and empty series of receptacles, and meansoperating to alternately deliver supplies of the material to therespective series of. chutes.

8. A filling machine including two series of discharge chutes, means forsimultaneously ccnveyin g a. plurality of receptacles to a positionadjacent the chutes, means for removing the receptacles from theconveying means, means for raising and lowering the receptacles withrespect to the chutes, the-first recited means also operating to feed anadditional series of receptacles to a position adjacent the chutesduring the raising and lowering movements of the first recited series ofreceptacles, the second recited means also operating to remove the saidadditional series of receptacles from the first recited means and returnthe filled receptacles thereto, the third recited means operating toreturn the filled receptacles simultaneously with the removal of theadditional and empty series of receptacles, and means operating toalternately deliver supplies of material to the respe tive series ofchutes, the last recited means including means whereby the quantities ofmaterial delivered to the chutes may be varied at will.

9. A filling machine including two series of discharge chutes arrangedadjacent each other, conveying means intermediate the two series forfeeding an empty series of receptacles between the said, seriesofchutes, means for simultaneously removing the empty receptacles from theconveying means and for placing them under one of the series of chutes,and means for raising and lowering the receptacles with respect to thechutes and while they are removed from the conveying means, the saidconveying means also operating to position anotherseries of emptyreceptacles intermediate the chutes while the first recited taneouslyand laterally remove the recep tacles from and also simultaneouslyreturn them to the conveyor, the last recited means including spacedguides between which the receptacles are positioned, and means forintermittently actuating the guides, the said guides permitting araising and lowering movement of the receptacles with respect thereto.

11. A filling machine including a plurality of discharge chutes, aconveyor for simultaneously conveying a pluralityoi receptacles to aposition adjacent the chutes, means for raising and lowering thereceptacles with respect to the chutes, means operating tosimultaneously and laterally move the receptacles from and alsosimultaneously return them to the conveyor, the last recited meansincluding spaced guides between which the receptacles are positioned,means for intermitt-ently actuating the guides, the said guidespermitting a raising and lowering movement oi the receptacles withrespect thereto, and means carried by the chutes and serving astemporary closures for the receptacles during the filling operation.

12. Afilling machine including a plurality of discharge chutes, aconveyor for simultaneously conveying a plurality of receptacles to thechutes, means common to the receptacles for simultaneously raising andlowering them with respect to the chutes, means carried by the chutesand serving as temporary closures for the receptacles, and. meansoperating to simultaneously remove the receptacles from and alsosimultaneously return them directly to the conveyor.

13. A filling machine including two delivery chutes, an oscillatableelement intermediate the chutes and provided with pockets individual tothe chutes, means adapted to be adjusted about the pivot of said elementand maintained in fixed adjusted position for varying the size of thepockets, and means for oscillating the element to cause the pockets toalternately discharge into the chutes.

14. A filling machine including two delivery chutes, an elementintermediate the chutes and provided with pockets individual to thechutes, means for varying the size of the pockets, means for oscillatingthe said element to cause the pockets to alternately discharge into thechutes, the said pockets embodying end members, a fixed membertherebetween, and pivotally mounted elements intermediate the endmembers, the respective proximate faces oi the said elements and thesaid fixed member co-operating to form the sides of the respectivepockets, and means for adjusting the said elements with respect to eachother and the said fixed member to vary at will the. size of thepockets.

15. A filling machine including a delivery element, said elementembodying pockets comprising spaced members and a fixed partitionoccupying a portion of the space be tween the members, pivotally mountedelements disposed in the space between the said spaced members andmovable towards and away from each other, the respective adjacent facesoi? the last said elements and the said partition co-operating to formthe sidewalls of the pockets, and means for simultaneously adjusting thesaid pivotally mounted elements to vary the size of the respectivepockets.

16. A filling machine including a delivery element, said elementembodying pockets comprising spaced members and a fixed partitionoccupying a portion of the space be tween the members, pivotally mountedelements disposed in the space between the said spaced. members andmovable towards and away from each other, the respective adjacent facesoi the said pivotally mounted elements and the said partitionco-operating to form the side walls of the pockets, gears rotatablysupported adjacent the end of the said de1ivery'element, links, one endof each of the links being connected with one of the said pivotallymounted elements and by the other end to one of the said gears, anoperating handle, and a gear connection between the handle and the firstrecited gears for causing the said elements to be moved towards or awayfrom the said partition.

17 A filling machine including a delivery element, said elementembodying pockets comprising spaced members and a fixed partitionoccupying a portion of the space between the members, pivotally mountedelements disposed in the space between the said spaced members andmovable towards and away from each other, the respective adjacent facesofthe said pivotally mounted elements and the said partitionco-operating to form the side walls of the pockets, gears rotatablysupported adjacent the end of the said delivery element, links, one endof each of the links being connected with one of the said pivotallymounted elements and by the other end to one of the said gears, anoperating handle, a

gear connection between the handle and the first recited gears forcausing the said pivotally mounted elements to be moved towards or wayfrom the said partition, and means for locking the said handle and gearsagainst operation.

18, A filling machine including an oscillatory delivery, element, andmeans for impart-- V ing'an oscillatory movement thereto, the said meansincluding an endless driving element havinga constant directionofmovement, a second endless driving element connectedw-ithcthesaiddeliveryelement, and a connection betweenone of the runs ofthe two endless driving elements, the second recited endless drivingelement being of a greater length fthanthe first recited endless elementwhereby a- ,forward and backward movement will be impartedto theseeondrecited endless element while the direction of movement of the firstrecited driving element remains, constant.

19 A filling machine including an oscilla to'ry deliverymember, aprojection carried by one'end'of the member, an oscillatarymember,adjustable elements carried by the last said member and between whichelements the name to this specification, on this 16th day of September,A. D. 1925.

GARRETT W. MUDD.

